FERDINAND Study: Weight Loss for Diabetes Prevention

Study title: Evaluating feijoa for diabetes prevention in a multi-ethnic New Zealand cohort

We are investigating whether daily consumption of feijoa whole fruit powder alters risk of developing type 2 diabetes through weight loss.

You will be required to:

• Attend 7 study visits at the Human Nutrition Unit, in Mt Eden
• Follow the low energy, Cambridge weight-loss diet for 8 weeks
• Complete a 4-month weight maintenance programme
• Consume feijoa whole fruit powder or placebo matched powder every day for 6 months

• 2 months’ worth of meal replacements at no cost
• 9 extensive dietary advice sessions with a Registered Dietitian
• Free body composition scans to understand your body fat mass, lean mass, and bone mineral density
• Try a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to know what meals raise your blood glucose more than others
• Get to know how many calories your body burns when at rest using an indirect calorimetry
• Your time will be compensated with travel vouchers

• Have elevated blood glucose but are not diabetic (we can check this for you)
• Are of Māori, Pacific Island, Asian Indian, Asian Chinese or NZ European/Caucasian descent
• Are between 18-70 years
• Have a BMI 26-40kg/m2
• Are happy to participate in a 6-month weight loss study
• Are happy to consume feijoa whole fruit powder or matched placebo powder every day for 8 months
• Are happy for us to provide blood, urine and faecal samples
• Are happy to complete 7 visits to the Human Nutrition Unit

IMPORTANT: You cannot participate in the study if you have already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. 

Complete the pre-screening survey here.

If you have any further questions please visit our FAQ page.

If you would like to learn more about this study, please contact us:

Phone: 09 630 1162

Email: FERDINAND@auckland.ac.nz

Approved by the Southern Health and Disability Ethics Committee on 16 March 2022.

Reference number: 2022 EXP 12032